Bushfires Factsheet 
 for Wildlife 

As many animals can only survive a matter of days without water, WIRES recommends putting out fresh, clean water for wildlife on very hot days.

During fire emergencies supporting wildlife with additional access to water is a priority.

• Provide containers of water, ideally in the shade. Do not put electrolytes or sugar in water sources as they can be harmful to wildlife.
• Keep the containers clean and change the water regularly, daily where possible, to prevent the spread of disease.
• Use strong containers to avoid collapse, and place them on firm surfaces so they don’t tip if a heavy animal tries to use them.
• Containers of different sizes and depths at different locations are ideal for a range of different birds and animals.
• Some containers placed under bushes can provide shade and assist birds to be better placed to escape from predators.
• Place sticks or a stone in the containers to act as a ramp for exhausted smaller animals a way out if they fall in.
• If you have found an animal in distress, you can offer it a shallow dish of water to drink from. If it is too weak, you can use an eyedropper to gently put a few drops on its lips or beak. Squirting water from bottles can cause choking and is not recommended.
• If you find a distressed animal that is showing signs of heat stress but is conscious and appears otherwise uninjured, gently mist them from a distance with a very light spray of water or place a sprinkler nearby.
• If you own a swimming pool, always drape something over the edge so that animals have a surface to grab hold of and climb out. A length of heavy-duty rope or even a bodyboard, secured at one end to something heavy outside the pool, is ideal as it does not absorb water and provides a platform for an exhausted animal to rest on. Pool steps are frequently too high to allow animals an easy exit and placing bricks or large stones to the side of each step can make it easier for animals to gain a foothold and climb out. 

Normally WIRES does not recommend feeding native animals in the wild.

During large scale emergencies wildlife specialists including WIRES may work with landowners and community groups to help surviving wildlife with supplementary food until the situation improves. If there is still vegetation, providing water only is the best way to help.

The food requirements of different species vary immensely and feeding wildlife the wrong food can be very detrimental to their health. Incorrect food can cause long term health problems and increase the spread of diseases. 

For community members wanting to assist locally with support feeding and water provision, connect with your local wildlife volunteers, environmental groups like Landcare and government agencies to partner with them and ensure the help being provided will deliver the best long term outcomes for the animals involved.

If food is provided is must be in clean dishes that will be cleaned daily. Feeding early in the morning before the weather gets too warm is best. 

Uneaten food must be removed every evening as meat will rot and attract bacterial diseases, uneaten seed will sprout after rain and introduce non-native weeds, and non-native animals such as rats and mice will be attracted.

Any support feeding locations should be regularly moved to reduce disease and predator risk. Feeding should also be as close to the animals natural diet as possible

Temporary food support for birds is dependant on species and if approved may include:

• Good quality mixed seed, both parrot and budgie mix

• Chopped fresh fruit - preferably berries/grapes. (avoid sweet mushy fruit such as mango and melon)

• Defrosted peas and corn

• Small pieces of lean meat when carnivorous birds are about (not mince)

• Meal worms (available at pet shops)

• Commercial bird food products ie Vetafarm Insecta Pro or Wombaroo Insectivore, prepared according to manufacturer's insutructions and replaced regularly

• Parrot pellets

• Dry honeyeater and lorikeet food

• Honeyeater and lorikeet wet mixes, prepared according to manufacturer's instructions and replaced regularly as they will sour and ferment.

If support feeding for macropods is approved it would be macropod pellets for kangaroos and wallabies. If they are hard to get goat pellets may also be used. 

Some hay can be used for macropods and wombats, Teff or grassy are the best options. However hay should not be used in bushland where it poses a high risk of introducing serious weeds.

Remember:

• What can be offered to one animal in small amounts may be harmful to another and could result in debilitating disease or even death.
• Uneaten food must be removed daily and all food containers cleaned daily to prevent the spread of disease.
• Never throw birdseed directly onto the ground.
• Never feed bread, honey, sugar, chocolate, dairy products, raw meat, cooked bones, bread, baked goods, avocado, rice, banana, onion, garlic, molasses, brassicas or processed foods with artificial sweeteners, as they can be very harmful.
• Do not feed wildlife mixtures of peanut butter, honey and rolled oats (known as bait or wildlife balls) as they are harmful to some animals.
• Individuals providing food  or water should wash their hands before and after to reduce risks to themselves and to the wildlife they are trying to help.
• Any supplementry food provided for wildlife must only be done with the authority of the landowner (this includes public land). The recommendations in each state or territory may differ so follow all government directives in your region.
• It is recommended that guidance and approval be obtained from authorities prior to providing any food to isolated populations of threatened or endangered species as regulated programs may already be in place.
• Avoid providing food where non-native animal populations may benefit, particularly pigs, goats and deer. These species can aggressively dominate food stations and threaten the recovery of native species.
• Written records should be kept of what is offered, where and when, and animal species and numbers present
• As conditions improve, water and food stations must be phased out to minimise habituation and dependence on supplementary support. It is best for the animals to be self-sufficient as soon as possible.

NSW Government Guidelines to Help Wildlife in Emergencies

Wildlife Health Australia - Supplying Food and Water to Wildlife after Natural Disasters